Former Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA leaders are speaking out against the organization’s decision to hold closed meetings following controversy about a proposal to make the facilities’ racquetball courts into additional fitness floor space.
In January, the YMCA announced it would repurpose the courts and increase the area of the fitness floor after conducting a survey among its users. The proposal has sparked opposition and protests from regular users of the courts, including a referendum from one court user.
YMCA Board of Directors Chairwoman Dabney Grinnan said the board began holding closed meetings after legal concerns surfaced with the referendum.
Rosemary Waldorf, who served on the YMCA board from 1985 to 1991, said she disagrees with the board’s decision to hold closed meetings — and she said she is not alone in her opinion.
She said the only reason the board closed meetings during her tenure was for personnel issues, like electing a new executive director.
“The Y has no history of closing meetings,” she said.
Robert Epting, a Chapel Hill resident and regular YMCA racquetball court user, said the survey never reached any of the racquetball players.
“We’re very disappointed,” he said. “We’ve been playing the sport for almost 30 years.”
Epting said he went to a recent board meeting to discuss the decision and was asked to leave.